Can anyone provide a detailed instruction on how to build or design an experimental isolation unit? I'm interested in doing an animal model using pigs to test my hypothesis on the pathogenicity of a microorganism. Thanks in advance
What age or size of pigs? What will be the duration of your experiments? Do you have access to an incinerator for handling the waste, feces and urine?
It depends about you need. For example, I had worked in a block of 4 rooms for 8 growing piglets each one, and with plastic movil divisions and slats, temperature and light control,....It all depends on your experimental design
My recomendation is that you make movile stalls with wheels, two types; large animals (frome 25 to 200 kgs) and the another one small animals (from 1 to 25 kgs). In ky opinión is very importan that the stalls are elevated on the floor, so you can collect samples from feces if it is necessary and easy the cleaning. the floor of stalls of large animals must be metal slat and in small one, plastic slat.
I would suggest you obtain the following text. Planning and Designing Research Animal Facilities by Hessler and Lehner. You've provided so little detail that giving a good answer is impossible. Having said that we rarely build any space that is species specific if we can help it. Research projects and investigators come and go but the space remains behind. The text I recommended is really helpful.
Dr Rhett Whitman Stout
I would appreciate if you have that document and could share with us to pursue the subject further and build community.
Thank you very much.
Juan, I tried to attach the link to the book. You can find this text on Amazon. There is a specific chapter on larger species such as dogs, sheep, swine, etc.. Hope this is helpful. Note that swine are extremely destructive so metal and concrete are your friends when your trying to build an enclosure for them. Since the original post was concerning biocontainment, a easily disinfected facility is a must.
http://www.amazon.com/Planning-Designing-Research-Facilities-Laboratory/dp/0123695171/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411766241&sr=1-1&keywords=planning+and+designing+research+animal+facilities
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